18th Annual ProStart Invitational

February 27, 2017

Now in its 18th year, the ProStart Invitational & Sysco Denver Hospitality Cup Competition will be held at Johnson & Wales University March 2-3, 2017. In addition to featuring more than 29 high school culinary and management teams competing for more than $1,000,000 in scholarship opportunities, the event showcases an industry and post-secondary job/college fair, competition best practices, and Colorado ProStart Alumni panel.

Robert Van Dyke (Golden H.S. 2005) - FCCLA State Adviser/Assistant Family & Consumer Sciences Program Director/Colorado Community College System

In a cross between “Top Chef” and “Shark Tank,” more than 250 ProStart students from across Colorado will demonstrate their mastery of culinary and business management skills. During the Culinary Competition, teams demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course, gourmet meal in one-hour using only two butane burners. During the Management Competition, teams demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a restaurant concept, including the menu, design, budget and marketing strategies which they present to a panel of judges as an entrepreneur would pitch to a group of investors. Participants in both events engage in a battle of skill and knowledge, with points awarded on specific criteria, such as proper cooking procedures, safety and sanitation, presentation, product taste, menu costing, and teamwork.

“This is like working in the amped-up environment of a packed restaurant on a Friday night,” said Mary Mino, president of the foundation. “Students who can perform under this pressure are well prepared to graduate and pursue a career in the hospitality industry, or have a leg up on their post-secondary culinary or management education.”

The school that accumulates the most points at the end of the contest will take home the “Sysco Denver Hospitality Cup.” The winning gold medal teams from the state competition will represent Colorado ProStart at the National ProStart Invitational in Charleston, S. C. on April 28-29, 2017.

Students are competing for over $1,000,000 in scholarship opportunities from the following institutions: Johnson & Wales University, August Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Louisiana Culinary Institute, New England Culinary Institute, The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute, Culinary Institute of Virginia, and The Culinary Institute of America.

THE 2017 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN EACH COMPETITION ARE:

PROSTART CULINARY TEAMS

Adams City High SchoolAspen High SchoolCentral High SchoolCoronado High SchoolFruita Monument High SchoolGateway High SchoolGrandview High SchoolMountain View High SchoolPalisade High SchoolRoy J. Wasson Academic CampusSmoky Hill High SchoolStandley Lake High SchoolSt. Vrain High School (Valley School District)Summit High SchoolThunderRidge High SchoolWestminster High SchoolWoodland Park High SchoolYouth Entity Roaring Fork School District

PROSTART MANAGEMENT TEAMS

Adams City High School Boulder High School Broomfield High SchoolCoronado High SchoolFruita Monument High SchoolGrandview High SchoolMountain View High SchoolRoy J. Wasson Academic CampusSmoky Hill High SchoolSummit High SchoolThunderRidge High School

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